Ark and Laura in Florence 2005 (57 of 172)

One of the doorways. Work on this cathedral was begun by Arnolfo di Cambio in approximately 1296 over the site of the church Santa Reparata. At the death of Arnolfo in 1301, Giotto assumed the direction of the work. When he died it was continued by Andrea Pisano, then by Francesco Talenti who completed it in 1369. The cupola was, however, unfinished. In 1420, a competition for its completion was won by Filippo Brunelleschi who finally brought to full realization, the extraordinary architectural monument admired by the entire world. It took him 14 years.